The Criterion Collection

[mrjohnnyb]

Flicker Alley is currently having a "Going Out of Print" sale on Georges Méliès A Trip to the Moon. It's 40% off and selling for $23.97.

I believe this item to be a "must have" for any serious collector of cinema history.

Check out the favorable review: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Tri.../36593/#Review

Link to sales page on Flicker Alley:

https://www.flickeralley.com/classic...age/p/41384371

[MeMynonsense]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Haven't seen the film but there was some backlash against it for having "snatched" the best picture and director awards from Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. Maybe Marty is a sore loser and has strings to pull at Paramount

I realise that you're kidding but I seriously doubt that Scorsese harboured any resentment towards Redford considering he appeared as an unscrupulous executive in Redford's wonderful Quiz Show (which I do believe is his best film).
While I personally don't care for Ordinary People I hope Redford's films start getting some HD love.

And Raging Bull being upstaged at the oscars, perfectly epitomises Academy's perennial pussyassness.

[joie]

I've read synopses of "Multiple Maniacs" and "Blow-up." Is "Maniacs" some sort of gross-fest? Could I up-chuck my popcorn onto Blow-up's beautiful digipack? Would I have to lick it clean or could I get a replacement?

I think Criterion's synopsis for "Blow-up" ought to admit the possibility that the photographer did not see a death. Something like, "He saw a death. Or didn't. You decide." Rather than, "He saw a death." Just as someone may see what looks like a face while staring at wallboard texture; someone else may see a puppy; or nothing!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by joie

Is "Maniacs" some sort of gross-fest?

I'm informed that among other treats, it features a scene of rape conducted by a giant lobster.

[KyleW]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm informed that among other treats, it features a scene of rape conducted by a giant lobster.

My question is more is this actually a good film ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by KyleW

My question is more is this actually a good film ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, but it depends how you feel about Waters. He might be one of the most "you either love him or hate him" directors ever.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by KyleW

My question is more is this actually a good film ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think everyone should see at least one of John Waters' early films at least once. He has a vision unlike anyone else. Whether you need to own it is a separate question. I have a copy of Pink Flamingos somewhere that I haven't watched in at least ten years. The John Waters commentary should be entertaining, though.

To answer the question, that depends on your reference for "good." On a purely cinematic level, no. On a "oh my god, I can't believe I'm watching this" level, yes.

[kingdoxie]

Just watched High and Low and was blown away by it, great police procedural and the performances all around were spot on. This is a really accessible foreign language film.

If you had to pick a foreign language film to recommend to a friend that said they didn't like films with subtitles, what would you choose? I'd say this one, The Executioner or Rififi.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

It's been a long time since I've seen the other transfer, so I can't say for sure how good it is or isn't.

All I can say for sure is that the Criterion extended cut is magical.

...I wept the first time I saw it.

Damn, I still need to watch my copy of this Criterion blu-ray. Can't wait.

And I weep every time I watch this film, esp. the ending sequence.

[jw007]

I think ANY John Waters film is definitely not a blind-buy purchase.

With that being said, I think Multiple Maniacs will make for a good double feature with Eating Raoul if you like your humor with a depraved twist of tongue in cheek.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Flicker Alley is currently having a "Going Out of Print" sale on Georges Méliès A Trip to the Moon. It's 40% off and selling for $23.97.

I believe this item to be a "must have" for any serious collector of cinema history.

Check out the favorable review: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Tri.../36593/#Review

Link to sales page on Flicker Alley:

https://www.flickeralley.com/classic...age/p/41384371

Does anyone own Flicker Alley Blu-ray's. I rarely see members mention them or this site review them. I've been thinking of buying their Chaplin set and Sennett, too.

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm informed that among other treats, it features a scene of rape conducted by a giant lobster.

Pales in comparison to the

[Show spoiler]"Rosary beads job" scene

, yes use your imagination. I always looked at John Waters as a renegade Director who played by his own rules. His early films are notoriously not "Hollywood". Thank God for that.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm informed that among other treats, it features a scene of rape conducted by a giant lobster.

[Show spoiler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHthbtSbGLM

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Does anyone own Flicker Alley Blu-ray's. I rarely see members mention them or this site review them. I've been thinking of buying their Chaplin set and Sennett, too.

I own six of their releases:

Dziga Vertov: The Man with the Movie Camera and Other Newly-Restored Works
Masterworks of American Avant-Garde Experimental Film 1920-1970
Nanook of the North / The Wedding of Palo
Too Late for Tears
A Trip to the Moon
and
Woman on the Run

I have been extremely satisfied with each one. I would say that they are comparable with Criterion Collection releases. However, they obviously do not have nearly as many films in their collection.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Rewatched The Player recently. Thankfully i didn't waste money on it in the last B+N sale. It seemed good to me in the 90s when I was less familiar with Altman's classic period, but I can't fathom the idea that it ranks with his best work unless you have amnesia or don't fully connect or understand his best films from the 70s. It almost resembles a TV film. No aesthetic ambition at all, and like most industry satires it is toothless, smug and overly self satisfied. It is a boring film and I'd place it somewhere near the bottom of Altman's filmography.

Rewatched An Autumn Afternoon too, which I do own on C.C. it's one of the greatest swansongs ever and arguably Ozu's most beautiful looking film.

I was actually thinking about picking up The Player as a blind buy next week.

...now I'm not so sure.

[Lastyear]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I was actually thinking about picking up The Player as a blind buy next week.

...now I'm not so sure.

Love The Player.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Does anyone own Flicker Alley Blu-ray's. I rarely see members mention them or this site review them. I've been thinking of buying their Chaplin set and Sennett, too.

I only have A Trip to the Moon and Sherlock Holmes but I'm very happy with both. They clearly take what they're doing seriously and they're pretty good at it.

[erlinmeyer]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Does anyone own Flicker Alley Blu-ray's. I rarely see members mention them or this site review them. I've been thinking of buying their Chaplin set and Sennett, too.

Own:
3-D Rarities
Children of Divorce
Too Late For Tears
Woman on the Run
Chaplin's Mutual Comedies
Chaplin's Essanay Comedies
The Mack Sennett Collection
On Order:
Behind the Door

Of the ones that you've been thinking about, I'd rank Chaplin's Essanay Comedies first, The Mack Sennett Collection second and Chaplin's Mutual Comedies third. The titles that had restoration work done with the Film Noir Foundation are really good. You could probably pass on the 3- Rareties, but should consider A Trip to the Moon before it goes out of production(currently $23.97).

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by kingdoxie

Just watched High and Low and was blown away by it, great police procedural and the performances all around were spot on. This is a really accessible foreign language film.

If you had to pick a foreign language film to recommend to a friend that said they didn't like films with subtitles, what would you choose? I'd say this one, The Executioner or Rififi.

My brother hates to read subtitles, but I suggested that he watch Metropolis(1927), since he wanted to expand his film horizons to Silent film. He loved it even though he still feels that reading subtitles is a bit of a chore.

My parents are the same as my brother as far as subtitles are concerned. However, a few years ago they watched the subtitled version of Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower from beginning to end. The visuals and the acting of Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat were enough to get them over their dislike of subtitles.

As far as foreign films in the collection I would recommend to friends/family that don't like subtitles... I'm not sure, but Shogun Assassin from the Lone Wolf & Cub set comes to my mind first. I can probably get my Dad to watch this one with me since he has seen the dubbed version already. I recall that there isn't a lot of dialogue, so he shouldn't have to read too much between all of the bloodshed.

Also, I think Kurosawa's samurai films(maybe Ran and Seven Samurai) would go over well with most people that dislike subtitles.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Does anyone own Flicker Alley Blu-ray's. I rarely see members mention them or this site review them. I've been thinking of buying their Chaplin set and Sennett, too.

I own these...

Too Late for Tears
Woman on the Run
The Most Dangerous Game/Gow, the Head Hunter

The Most Dangerous Game was actually a Criterion DVD, but it somehow made it over the wall without the Criterion guard towers seeing it, and it successfully defected over to Flicker Alley. The Blu-ray is really quite wonderful, as is the movie itself.

I ordered A Trip to the Moon at long last earlier today, after receiving the tipoff.